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Korean Armistice
Agreement

Bureau of Arms Control

Washington, DC

July 27, 1953

Agreement between the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations
Command, on the one hand, and the Supreme Commander of the Korean
People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's volunteers,
on the other hand, concerning a military armistice in Korea.

Preamble

The undersigned, the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command,
on the one hand, and the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's
Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers, on the
other hand, in the interest of stopping the Korean conflict, with
its great toil of suffering and bloodshed on both sides, and with
the objective of establishing an armistice which will insure a
complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in
Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved, do
individually, collectively, and mutually agree to accept and to be
bound and governed by the conditions and terms of armistice set
forth in the following articles and paragraphs, which said
conditions and terms are intended to be purely military in
character and to pertain solely to the belligerents in Korea:

Article I

Advertisements

Military
Demarcation Line and Demilitarized Zone

1. A military demarcation line shall be fixed and both sides
shall withdraw two (2) kilometers from this line so as to establish
a demilitarized zone between the opposing forces. A demilitarized
zone shall be established as a buffer zone to prevent the
occurrence of incidents which might lead to a resumption of
hostilities.

2. The military demarcation line is located as indicated on the
attached map.

3. This demilitarized zone is defined by a northern and southern
boundary as indicated on the attached map.

4. The military demarcation line shall be plainly marked as
directed by the Military Armistice Commission hereinafter
established. The Commanders of the opposing sides shall have
suitable markers erected along the boundary between the
demilitarized zone and their respective areas. The Military
Armistice Commission shall supervise the erection of all markers
placed along the military demarcation line and along the boundaries
of the demilitarized zone.

5. The waters of the Han River Estuary shall be open to civil
shipping of both sides wherever one bank is controlled by one side
and the other bank is controlled by the other side. The Military
Armistice Commission shall prescribe rules for the shipping in that
part of the Han River Estuary indicated on the attached map. Civil
shipping of each side shall have unrestricted access to the land
under the military control of that side.

6. Neither side shall execute any hostile act within, from, or
against the demilitarized zone.

7. No person, military or civilian, shall be permitted to cross
the military demarcation line unless specifically authorized to do
so by the Military Armistice Commission.

8. No person, military of civilian, in the demilitarized zone
shall be permitted to enter the territory under the military
control of either side unless specifically authorized to do so by
the Commander into whose territory entry is sought.

9. No person, military or civilian, shall be permitted to enter
the demilitarized zone except persons concerned with the conduct of
civil administration and relief and persons specifically authorized
to enter by the Military Armistice Commission.

10. Civil administration and relief in that part of the
demilitarized zone which is south of the military of the military
demarcation line shall be the responsibility of the
Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command; and civil
administration and relief in that part of the demilitarized zone
which is north of the military demarcation line shall be the joint
responsibility of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
and the Commander of the Chinese People's volunteers. The number of
persons, military or civilian, from each side who are permitted to
enter the demilitarized zone for the conduct of civil
administration and relief shall be as determined by the respective
Commanders, but in no case shall the total number authorized by
either side exceed one thousand (1,000) persons at any one time.
The number of civil police and the arms to be carried by them shall
be a prescribed by the Military Armistice Commission. Other
personnel shall not carry arms unless specifically authorized to do
so by the Military Armistice Commission.

11. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to
prevent the complete freedom of movement to, from, and within the
demilitarized zone by the Military Armistice Commission, its
assistants, its Joint Observer Teams with their assistants, the
Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission hereinafter established, its
assistants, its Neutral Nations Inspection teams with their
assistants, and of any other persons, materials, and equipment
specifically authorized to enter the demilitarized zone by the
Military Armistice Commission. Convenience of movement shall be
permitted through the territory under the military control of
either side over any route necessary to move between points within
the demilitarized zone where such points are not connected by roads
lying completely within the demilitarized zone.

Article
II

Concrete
Arrangements for Cease-Fire and Armistice

A. General

12. The Commanders of the opposing sides shall order and enforce
a complete cessation of all hostilities in Korea by all armed
forces under their control, including all units and personnel of
the ground, naval, and air forces, effective twelve (12) hours
after this armistice agreement is signed. (See paragraph 63 hereof
for effective date and hour of the remaining provisions of this
armistice agreement.)

13. In order to insure the stability of the military armistice
so as to facilitate the attainment of a peaceful settlement through
the holding by both sides of a political conference of a higher
level, the Commanders of the opposing sides shall:

(a) Within seventy-two (72) hours after this armistice
agreement becomes effective, withdraw all of their military forces,
supplies, and equipment from the demilitarized zone except as
otherwise provided herein. Al demolitions, minefields, wire
entanglements, and other hazards to the safe movement of personnel
of the Military Armistice Commission or its Joint Observer Teams,
known to exist within the demilitarized zone after the withdrawal
of military forces therefrom, together with lanes known to be free
of all such hazards, shall be reported to the MAC by the Commander
of the side whose forces emplaced such hazards. Subsequently,
additional safe lanes shall be cleared; and eventually, within
forty-five (45) days after the termination of the seventy-two (72)
hour period, all such hazards shall be removed from the
demilitarized zone as directed by the under the supervision of the
MAC. At the termination of the seventy-two (72) hour period, except
for unarmed troops authorized forty-five (54) day period to
complete salvage operations under MAC and agreed to by the MAC and
agreed to by the Commanders of the opposing sides, and personnel
authorized under paragraphs 10 and 11 hereof, no personnel of
either side shall be permitted to enter the demilitarized
zone.

(b) Within ten (10) days after this armistice agreement becomes
effective, withdraw all of their military forces, supplies, and
equipment from the rear and the coastal islands and waters of Korea
of the other side. If such military forces are not withdrawn within
the stated time limit, and there is no mutually agreed and valid
reason for the delay, the other side shall have the right to take
any action which it deems necessary for the maintenance of security
and order. The term "coastal islands", as used above, refers to
those islands, which, though occupied by one side at the time when
this armistice agreement becomes effective, were controlled by the
other side on 24 June 1950; provided, however, that all the islands
lying to the north and west of the provincial boundary line between
HWANGHAE-DO and KYONGGI-DO shall be under the military control of
the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and the Commander
of the Chinese People's volunteers, except the island groups of
PAENGYONG-DO (37 58' N, 124 40' E), TAECHONG-DO (37 50' N, 124 42'
E), SOCHONG-DO (37 46' N, 124 46' E), YONPYONG-DO (37 38' N, 125
40' E), and U-DO (37 36'N, 125 58' E), which shall remain under the
military control of the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command.
All the island on the west coast of Korea lying south of the
above-mentioned boundary line shall remain under the military
control of the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command. (See Map
3).

(c) Cease the introduction into Korea of Reinforcing military
personnel; provided, however, that the rotation of units and
personnel, the arrival in Korea of personnel on a temporary duty
basis, and the return to Korea of personnel after short periods of
leave or temporary duty outside of Korea shall be permitted within
the scope prescribed below: "Rotation" is defined as the
replacement of units or personnel by other units or personnel who
re commencing a tour of duty in Korea. Rotation personnel shall be
introduced into and evacuated from Korea only through the ports of
entry enumerated in Paragraph 43 hereof. Rotation shall be
conducted on a man-for-man basis; provided, however, that no more
than thirty-five thousand (35,000) persons in the military service
shall be admitted into Korea by either side in any calendar month
under the rotation policy. No military personnel of either side
shall be introduced into Korea if the introduction of such
personnel will cause the aggregate of the military personnel of
that side admitted into Korea since the effective date of this
Armistice Agreement to exceed the cumulative total of the military
personnel of that side who have departed from Korea since that
date. Reports concerning arrivals in and departures from Korea of
military personnel shall be made daily to the Military Armistice
Commission and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission; such
reports shall include places of arrival and departure and the
number of persons arriving at or departing from each such place.
The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, through its Neutral
Nations Inspection Teams, shall conduct supervision and inspection
of the rotation of units and personnel authorized above, at the
ports of entry enumerated in Paragraph 43 hereof.

(d) Cease the introduction into Korea of reinforcing combat
aircraft, armored vehicles, weapons, and ammunition; provided
however, that combat aircraft, armored vehicles, weapons, and
ammunition which are destroyed, damaged, worn out, or used up
during the period of the armistice may be replaced on the basis
piece-for-piece of the same effectiveness and the same type. Such
combat aircraft, armored vehicles, weapons, and ammunition shall be
introduced into Korea only through the ports of entry enumerated in
paragraph 43 hereof. In order to justify the requirements for
combat aircraft, armored vehicles, weapons, and ammunition to be
introduced into Korea for replacement purposes, reports concerning
every incoming shipment of these items shall be made to the MAC and
the NNSC; such reports shall include statements regarding the
disposition of the items being replaced. Items to be replace which
are removed from Korea shall be removed only through the ports of
entry enumerated in paragraph 43 hereof. The NNSC, through its
Neutral Nations Inspection Teams, shall conduct supervision and
inspection of the replacement of combat aircraft, armored vehicles,
weapons, and ammunition authorized above, at the ports of entry
enumerated in paragraph 43 hereof.

(e) Insure that personnel of their respective commands who
violate any of the provisions of this armistice agreement are
adequately punished.

(f) In those cases where places of burial are a matter of
record and graves are actually found to exist, permit graves
registration personnel of the other side to enter, within a
definite time limit after this armistice agreement becomes
effective, the territory of Korea under their military control, for
the purpose of proceeding to such graves to recover and evacuate
the bodies of the deceased military personnel of that side,
including deceased prisoners of war. The specific procedures and
the time limit for the performance of the above task shall be
determined by the Military Armistice Commission. The Commanders of
the opposing sides shall furnish to the other side all available
information pertaining to the places of burial of the deceased
military personnel of the other side.

(g) Afford full protection and all possible assistance and
cooperation to the Military Armistice Commission, its Joint
Observer Tams, the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, and its
Neutral Nations Inspection Teams, in the carrying out of their
functions and responsibilities hereinafter assigned; and accord to
the Neutral Nations Inspection Teams, full convenience of movement
between the headquarters of the Neutral Nations supervisory
Commission and the ports of entry enumerated in Paragraph 43 hereof
over main lines of communication agreed upon by both sides (see Map
4), and between the headquarters of the Neutral Nations Supervisory
commission and the places where violations of this Armistice
Agreement have been reported to have occurred. In order to prevent
unnecessary delays, the use of alternate routes and means of
transportation will be permitted whenever the main lines of
communication are closed or impassable.

(h) Provide such logistic support, including communications and
transportation facilities, as may be required by the military
Armistice Commission and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission
and their Teams.

(i) Each construct, operate, and maintain a suitable airfield
in their respective parts of the Demilitarized Zone in the vicinity
of the headquarters of the Military Armistice Commission, for such
uses as the Commission may determine.

(j) Insure that all members and other personnel of the Neutral
Nations Supervisory Commission and of the Neutral Nations
Repatriation Commission hereinafter established shall enjoy the
freedom and facilities necessary for the proper exercise of their
functions, including privileges, treatment, and immunities
equivalent to those ordinarily enjoyed by accredited diplomatic
personnel under international usage.

14. This Armistice Agreement shall apply to all opposing ground
forces under the military control of either side, which ground
forces shall respect the Demilitarized Zone and the area of Korea
under the military control of the opposing side.

15. This Armistice Agreement shall apply t all opposing naval
forces, which naval forces shall respect the water contiguous to
the Demilitarized Zone and to the land area of Korea under the
military control of the opposing side, and shall not engage in
blockade of any kind of Korea.

16. This Armistice Agreement shall apply to all opposing air
forces, which air forces shall respect the air space over the
Demilitarized Zone and over the area of Korea under the military
control of the opposing side, and over the waters contiguous to
both.

17. Responsibility for compliance with and enforcement of the
terms and provisions of this Armistice Agreement is that of the
signatories hereto and their successors in command. The Commanders
of the opposing sides shall establish within their respective
commands all measures and procedures necessary to insure complete
compliance with all of the provisions hereof by all elements of
their commands. They shall actively co-operate with one another and
with the Military Armistice Commission and the Neutral nations
supervisory Commission in requiring observance of both letter and
the spirit of all of the provisions of this Armistice
Agreement.

18. The costs of the operations of the Military Armistice
Commission and of the Neutral Nations supervisory Commission and of
their Teams shall be shared equally by the two opposing sides.

B. Military Armistice
Commission

1.
Composition

19. A Military Armistice Commission is hereby established.

20. The Military Armistice commission shall be composed of ten
(10) senior officers, five (5) of whom shall be appointed by the
Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, and five (5) of whom
shall be appointed jointly by the Supreme Commander of the Korean
People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
Of the ten members, three (3) from each side shall be of general of
flag rank. The two (2) remaining members on each side may be major
generals, brigadier generals, colonels, or their equivalents.

21. Members of the Military Armistice Commission shall be
permitted to use staff assistants as required.

22. The Military Armistice Commission shall able provided with
the necessary administrative personnel to establish a Secretariat
charged with assisting the Commission by performing record-keeping,
secretarial, interpreting, and such other functions as the
Commission may assign to it. Each side shall appoint to the
Secretariat a Secretary and an Assistant Secretary and such
clerical and specialized personnel as required by the Secretariat.
Records shall be kept in English, Korean, and Chinese, all of which
shall be equally authentic.

23.

(a) The Military Armistice Commission shall be initially
provided with and assisted by ten (10) Joint Observer Teams, which
number may be reduced by agreement of the senior members of both
sides on the Military Armistice Commission.

(b) Each Joint Observer Team shall be composed of not less than
four (4) nor mire than six (6) officers of field grade, half of
whom shall be appointed by the Commander-in- Chief, United Nations
Command, and half of whom shall be appointed by the
Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, and half of whom shall
be appointed jointly by the Supreme Commander of the Korean
People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
Additional personnel such as drivers, clerks, and interpreters
shall be furnished by each side as required for the functioning of
the Joint Observer Teams.

24. The general mission of the Military Armistice Commission
shall be to supervise the implementation of this Armistice
Agreement and to settle through negotiations any violations of this
Armistice Agreement.

25. The military Armistice Commission shall:

(a) Locate its headquarters in the vicinity of PANMUNJOM (37
57'29" n, 126 40'00" e). The Military Armistice Commission may
re-locate its headquarters at another point within the
Demilitarized Zone by agreement of the senior members of both sides
on the Commission.

(b) Operate as a joint organization without a chairman.

(c) Adopt such rules of procedure as it may, from time to time,
deem necessary

(d) Supervise the carrying out of the provisions of this
Armistice Agreement pertaining to the Demilitarized Zone and to the
Han River Estuary.

(e) Direct the operations of the Joint Observer Teams.

(f) Settle through negotiations any violations of this
Armistice Agreement.

(g) Transmit immediately to the Commanders of the opposing
sides all reports of investigations of violations of this Armistice
Agreement and all other reports and records of proceedings received
from the Neutral nations supervisory Commission.

(h) Give general supervision and direction to the activities of
the Committee for Repatriation of Prisoners of War and the
Committee for Assisting the Return of Displaced Civilians,
hereinafter established.

(i) Act as intermediary in transmitting communications between
the Commanders of the opposing sides; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not be construed to preclude the Commanders of both
sides from Communicating with each other by any other means which
they may desire to employ.

(j) Provide credentials and distinctive insignia for its staff
and its Joint Observer Teams, and a distinctive marking for all
vehicles, aircraft, and vessels, used in the performance of its
mission.

26. The Mission of the Joint Observer Teams shall be to assist
the Military Armistice Commission in supervising the carrying out
of the provisions of this Armistice Agreement pertaining to the
Demilitarized Zone and to the Han River Estuary.

27. The Military Armistice Commission, or the senior member of
either side thereof, is authorized to dispatch Joint Observer Teams
to investigate violations of this Armistice Agreement reported to
have occurred in the Demilitarized Zone or in the Han River
Estuary; provided, however, that not more than one half of the
Joint Observer Teams which have not been dispatched by the Military
Armistice Commission may be dispatched at any one time by the
senior member of either side on the Commission.

28. The Military Armistice Commission, or the senior member of
either side thereof, is authorized to request the Neutral Nations
Supervisory Commission to conduct special observations and
inspections at places outside the Demilitarized Zone where
violations of this Armistice Agreement have been reported to have
occurred. 29. When the Military Armistice Commission determines
that a violation of this Armistice Agreement has occurred, it shall
immediately report such violation to the Commanders of the opposing
sides.

30. When the Military Armistice Commission determines that a
violation of this Armistice Agreement has been corrected to its
satisfaction, it shall so report to the Commanders of the opposing
sides.

3.
General

31. The Military Armistice Commission shall meet daily. Recesses
of not to exceed seven (7) days may be agreed upon by the senior
members of both sides; provided, that such recesses may be
terminated on twenty-four (24) hour notice by the senior member of
either side.

32. Copies of the record of the proceedings of all meetings of
the Military Armistice Commission shall be forwarded to the
Commanders of the opposing sides as soon as possible after each
meeting.

33. The Joint Observer teams shall make periodic reports to the
Military Armistice Commission as required by the Commission and, in
addition, shall make such special reports as may be deemed
necessary by them, or as may be required by the Commission.

34. The Military Armistice Commission shall maintain duplicate
files of the reports and records of proceedings required by this
Armistice Agreement. The Commission is authorized to maintain
duplicate files of such other reports, records, etc., as may be
necessary in the conduct of its business. Upon eventual dissolution
of the Commission, one set of the above files shall be turned over
to each side.

35. The Military Armistice Commission may make recommendations
to the Commanders of the opposing sides with respect to amendments
or additions to this Armistice Agreement. Such recommended changes
should generally be those designed to insure a more effective
armistice.

C. Neutral Nations
Supervisory Commission

1.
Compositions

36. A Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission is hereby
established.

37. The Neutral Nations supervisory Commission shall be composed
of four (4) senior officers, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by
neutral nations nominated by the Commander- in-Chief, United
Nations Command, namely, SWEDEN and SWITZERLAND, and two (2) of
whom shall be appointed by neutral nations nominated jointly by the
Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and the Commander of
the Chinese People's Volunteers, namely, POLAND and CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
The term "neutral nations" as herein used is defined as those
nations whose combatant forces have not participated in the
hostilities in Korea. Members appointed to the Commission may be
from the armed forces of the appointing nations. Each member shall
designate an alternate member to attend those meetings which for
any reason the principal member is unable to attend. Such alternate
members shall be of the same nationality as their principals. The
Neutral Nations supervisory Commission may take action whenever the
number of members present from the neutral nations nominated by one
side is equal to the number of members present from the neutral
nations nominated by the other side.

38. Members of the Neutral nations Supervisory Commission shall
be permitted to use staff assistants furnished by the neutral
nations as required. These staff assistants may be appointed as
alternate members of the Commission.

39. The neutral nations shall be requested to furnish the
Neutral nations Supervisory Commission with the necessary
administrative personnel to establish a Secretariat charged with
assisting the Commission by performing necessary record-keeping,
secretarial, interpreting, and such other functions as the
Commission may assign to it.

40.

(a) The Neutral Nations supervisory Commission shall be
initially provided with, and assisted by, twenty (20) neutral
Nations Inspection Teams, which number may be reduced by agreement
of the senior members of both sides on the Military Armistice
Commission. The Neutral nations Inspection Teams shall be
responsible to, shall report to, and shall be subject to the
direction of, the Neutral Nations supervisory Commission only.

(b) Each Neutral Nations Inspection Team shall be composed of
not less than four (4) officers, preferably of field grade, half of
whom shall be from the neutral nations nominated by the
Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, and half of whom shall
be from the neutral nations nominated jointly by the Supreme
Commander of the Korean People's Army, and the Commander of the
Chinese People's Volunteers. Members appointed to the Neutral
Nations Inspection Teams may be from the armed forces of the
appointed. In order to facilitate the functioning of the Teams,
sub-teams composed of not less than two (2) members, one of whom
shall be from a neutral nation nominated by the Commander-in-Chief,
United Nations Command, and one of whom shall be from a neutral
nation nominated jointly by the Supreme Commander of the Korean
People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers,
may be formed as circumstances require. Additional personnel such
as drivers, clerks, interpreters, and communications personnel, and
such equipment as may be required by the Teams to perform their
missions, shall be furnished by the Commander of each side, as
required, in the Demilitarized Zone and in the territory under his
military control. The Neutral nations Supervisory Commission may
provide itself and the Neutral Nations Inspection Teams with such
of the above personnel shall be personnel of the same neutral
nations of which the Neutral nations supervisory Commission is
composed.

2.
Functions and Authority

41. The mission of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission
shall be to carry out the functions of supervision, observation,
inspection, and investigation, as stipulated in Sub-paragraphs
13(c) and 13(d) and Paragraph 28 hereof, and to report the results
of such supervision, observation, inspection, and investigation to
the Military Armistice Commission.

42. The Neutral nations Supervisory Commission shall:

(a) Locate its headquarters in proximity to the to the
headquarters of the Military Armistice Commission.

(b) Adopt such rules of procedure as it may, from time to time,
deem necessary.

(c) Conduct, through its members and its Neutral nations
Inspection teams, the supervision and inspection provided for in
Sub-paragraphs 13(c) and 13(d) of this Armistice Agreement at the
ports of entry enumerated in Paragraph 43 hereof, and the special
observations and inspections provided for in paragraph 28 hereof at
those places where violations of this Armistice Agreement have been
reported to have occurred. The inspection of combat aircraft,
armored vehicles, weapons, and ammunition by the Neutral Nations
Inspection Teams shall be such as to enable them to properly insure
that reinforcing combat aircraft, armored vehicles, weapons, and
ammunition are not being introduced into Korea; but this shall not
be construed as authorizing inspections or examinations of any
secret designs of characteristics of any combat aircraft, armored
vehicle, weapon, or ammunition.

(d) Direct and supervise the operations of the Neutral Nations
Inspection Teams.

(e) Station five (5) neutral nations Inspection Teams at the
ports of entry enumerated in Paragraph 43 hereof located in the
territory under the military control of the Commander-in-Chief,
United Nations Command; and five (5) Neutral nations Inspection
Teams at the ports of entry enumerated in Paragraph 43 hereof
located in the territory under the military control of the Supreme
Commander of the Korean People's Army and the Commander of the
Chinese People's Volunteers; and establish initially ten (10)
mobile Neutral nations Inspection Teams in reserve, stationed in
the general vicinity of the headquarters of the Neutral Nations
supervisory Commission, which number may be reduced by agreement of
the senior members of both sides on the Military Armistice
Commission. Not more than half of the mobile Neutral Nations
Inspection Teams shall be dispatched at any one time in accordance
with requests of the senior member of either side on the Military
Armistice Commission.

(f) Subject to the provisions of the preceding Sub-paragraphs,
conduct without delay investigations of reported violations of this
Armistice Agreement, including such investigations of reported
violations of this Armistice Agreement as may be requested by the
Military Armistice Commission or by the senior member of either
side on the Commission.

(g) Provide credentials and distinctive insignia for its staff
and its Neutral nations Inspection Teams, and a distinctive marking
for all vehicles, aircraft, and vessels used in the Performance of
this mission.

43. Neutral nations Inspection Teams shall be stationed at the
following ports of entry.

Territory under the military control of the United Nations
Command

INCHON..................................(37 28, 126 38'E)

TAEGU...................................(35 52'n, 128 36'E)

PUSAN...................................(35 45'N, 129 02'E)

KANGNUNG................................(37 45'N, 128 54'E)

KUNSAN..................................(35 59'E, 126 43'E)

Territory under the military control of the Korean People's Army
and the Chinese People's Volunteers

SINUJU..................................(40 06'n, 124 24E)

CHONGJIN................................(41 46'N, 129 49E)

HUNGNAM.................................(39 50'N, 127 37'E)

MANPO...................................(41 46'N, 126 18'E)

SINANJU.................................(39 36'N, 125 36'E)

These Neutral Nations Inspection Teams shall be accorded full
convenience of movement within the areas and over the routes of
communication set forth on the attached map (Map 5).

3.
General

44. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission shall meet daily.
Recesses of not to exceed seven (7) days may be agreed upon by the
members of the Neutral nations Supervisory Commission; provided,
that such recesses may be terminated on twenty-four (24) hour
notice by any member.

45. Copies of the record of the proceedings of all meetings of
the Neutral Nations Supervisory commission shall be forwarded to
the Military Armistice commission as soon as possible after each
meeting. Records shall be kept in English, Korean, and Chinese.

46. The Neutral Nations Inspection Teams shall make periodic
reports concerning the results of their supervision observations,
inspections, and investigations to the Neutral Nations supervisory
Commission as required by the Commission and, in addition, shall
make such special reports as may be deemed necessary by them, or as
may be required by the Commission. Reports shall be submitted by a
Team as a whole, but may also be submitted by one or more
individual members thereof; provided, that the reports submitted by
one or more individual members thereof shall be considered as
information only.

47. Copies of the reports made by the Neutral Nations Inspection
teams shall be forwarded to the Military Armistice Commission by
the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission without delay and in the
language in which received. They shall not be delayed by the
process of translation or evaluation. The Neutral Nations
Supervisory Commission shall evaluate such reports at the earliest
practicable time and shall forward their findings to the Military
Armistice Commission as a matter of priority. The Military
Armistice Commission shall not take final action with regard to any
such report until the evaluation thereof has been received from the
Neutral nations Supervisory Commission. Members of the Neutral
nations Supervisory Commission and of its Teams shall be subject to
appearance before the Military Armistice Commission, at the request
of the senior member of either side on the Military Armistice
Commission, for clarification of any report submitted.

48. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission shall maintain
duplicate files of the reports and records of proceedings required
by this Armistice Agreement. The Commission is authorized to
maintain duplicate files of such other reports, records, etc., as
may be necessary in the conduct of its business. Upon eventual
dissolution of the Commission, one set of the above files shall be
turned over to each side.

49. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission may make
recommendations to the Military Armistice Commission with respect
to amendments or additions to this Armistice Agreement. Such
recommended changes should generally be those designed to insure a
more effective armistice.

50. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, or any member
thereof, shall be authorized to communicated with any member of the
Military Armistice Commission.

Article
III Arrangement Relating to Prisoners of War

51. The release and repatriation of all prisoners of war held in
the custody of each side at the time this armistice agreement
becomes effective shall be effected in conformity with the
following provisions agreed upon by both sides prior to the signing
of this armistice agreement.

(a) Within sixty (60) days after this agreement becomes
effective each side shall, without offering any hindrance, directly
repatriate and hand over in groups all those prisoners of war in
its custody who insist on repatriation to the side to which they
belonged at the time of capture. Repatriation shall be accomplished
in accordance with the related provisions of this Article. In order
to expedite the repatriation process of such personnel, each side
shall, prior to the signing of the Armistice Agreement, exchange
the total numbers, by nationalities, or personnel to be directly
repatriated. Each group of prisoners of war delivered to the other
side shall be accompanied by rosters, prepared by nationality, to
include name, rank (if any) and internment or military serial
number.

(b) Each side shall release all those remaining prisoners of
war, who are not directly repatriated, from its military control
and from its custody and hand them over to the Neutral Nations
Repatriation Commission for disposition in accordance with the
provisions in the Annex hereto, "Terms of Reference for Neutral
Nations Repatriation Commission."

(c) So that there may be no misunderstanding owing to the equal
use of three languages, the act of delivery of a prisoner of war by
one side to other side shall, for the purposes of the Armistice
Agreement, be called "repatriation" in English, ( ) "Song Hwan" in
Korean and ( ) "Ch'ien Fan" in Chinese, notwithstanding the
nationality or place of residence of such prisoner of war.

52. Each side insures that it will not employ in acts of war in
the Korean conflict any prisoner of war released and repatriated
incident to the coming into effect of this armistice agreement.

53. All the sick and injured prisoners of was who insist upon
repatriation shall be repatriated with priority. Insofar as
possible, there shall be captured medical personnel repatriated
concurrently with the sick and injured prisoners of war, so as to
provide medical care and attendance enroute.

54. The repatriation of all of the prisoners of war required by
Sub-paragraph 51 (a) hereof shall be completed within a time limit
of sixty (60) days after this Armistice Agreement becomes
effective. Within this time limit each side undertakes to complete
repatriation of the above- mentioned prisoners of war in its
custody at the earliest practicable time.

55. PANMUNJOM is designated as the place where prisoners of war
will be delivered and received by both sides. Additional place(s)
of delivery and reception of prisoners of war in the Demilitarized
Zone may be designated, if necessary, by the Committee for
Repatriation of Prisoners of War.

56.

(a) A committee for Repatriation of Prisoners of War is hereby
established. It shall be composed of six (6) officers of field
grade, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the
Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, and three (3) of whom
shall be appointed jointly by the Supreme Commander of the Korean
People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
This Committee shall, under the general supervision and direction
of the Military Armistice Commission, be responsible for co-
ordinating the specific plans of both sides for the repatriation of
prisoners of war and for supervision the execution by both sides of
all of the provisions of this Armistice Agreement relating to the
repatriation of prisoners of war. It shall be the duty of this
Committee to co-ordinate the timing of the arrival of prisoners of
war at the place(s) of delivery and reception of prisoners of war
from the prisoner of war camps of both sides; to make, when
necessary, such special arrangements as may be required with regard
to the transportation and welfare of sick and injured prisoners of
war; to co-ordinate the work of the joint Red Cross teams,
established in Paragraph 57 hereof, in assisting in the
repatriation of prisoners of war; to supervise the implementation
of the arrangements for the actual repatriation of prisoners of war
stipulated in Paragraphs 53 and 54 hereof; to select, when
necessary, additional place(s) of delivery and reception of
prisoners of war; and to carry out such other related functions as
are required for the repatriation of prisoners of war.

(b) When unable to reach agreement on any matter relating to
its responsibilities, the committee for Repatriation of Prisoners
of War shall immediately refer such matter to the Military
Armistice Commission for decision. The Committee for Repatriation
of Prisoners of War shall maintain its headquarters in proximity to
the headquarters of the Military Armistice Commission.

(c) The Committee for Repatriation of Prisoners of War shall be
dissolved by the Military Armistice Committee upon completion of
the program of repatriation of prisoners of war.

57.

(a) Immediately after this Armistice Agreement becomes
effective, joint Red Cross teams composed of representatives of the
national Red Cross Societies of countries contributing forces to
the United Nations Command on the one hand, and representatives of
the of the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea and representatives of the Red Cross Society of the People's
Republic of China on the other hand, shall be established. The
joint Red Cross teams shall assist in the execution by both sides
of those provisions of this Armistice Agreement relating to the
repatriation of all the prisoners of war specified in Sub-paragraph
51 (a) hereof, who insist upon repatriation, by the performance of
such humanitarian services as are necessary and desirable for the
welfare of the prisoners of war. To accomplish this task, the joint
Red Cross teams shall provide assistance in the delivering and
receiving of prisoners of war by both sides at the place(s) of
delivery and reception of prisoners of war, and shall visit the
prisoner-of-war camps of both sides to comfort the prisoners of
war.

(b) The joint Red Cross teams shall be organized as set forth
below:

(1) One team shall be composed of twenty (20) members, namely,
ten (10) representatives from the national Red Cross Societies of
each side, to assist in the delivering and receiving of prisoners
of war by both sides at the place(s) of delivery and reception of
prisoners of war. The chairmanship of this team shall alternate
daily between representative from the Red Cross Societies of the
two sides. The work and services of this team shall be coordinated
by the Committee for Repatriation of Prisoners of War.

(2) One team shall be composed of sixty (60) members, namely,
thirty (30) representatives from the national Red Cross Societies
of each side, to visit the prisoner-of-war camps under the
administration of the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's
Volunteers. This team may provide services to prisoners of war
while en route from the prisoner of war camps to the place(s) of
delivery and reception of prisoners of war. A representative of a
Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or
of the Red Cross Society of the People's Republic of China shall
serve as chairman of this team.

(3) One team shall be composed of sixty (60) members, namely,
thirty (30) representatives from the national Red Cross Societies
of each side, to visit the prisoner of war camps under the
administration of the United Nations Command. This team may provide
services to prisoners of war while en route from the prisoner of
war camps to the place(s) of delivery and reception of prisoners of
war. A representative of a Red Cross Society of a nation
contributing to forces to the United Nations Command shall serve as
chairman of this team.

(4) In order to facilitate the functioning of each joint Red
Cross team, sub-teams composed of not less than two (2) members
from this team, with an equal number of representatives from each
side, may be formed as circumstances require.

(5) Additional personnel such as drivers, clerks, and
interpreters, and such equipment as may be required by the joint
Red Cross teams to perform their missions, shall be furnished by
the Commander of each side to the team operating in the territory
under his military control.

(6) Whenever jointly agreed upon by the representatives of both
sides on any joint Red Cross team, the size of such team may be
increased or decreased, subject to confirmation by the committee
for Repatriation of Prisoners of War.

(c) The Commander of each side shall co-operate fully with the
joint Red Cross teams in the performance of their functions, and
undertakes to insure the security of the personnel of the Joint Red
Cross team in the area under his military control. The Commander of
each side shall provide such logistic, administrative, and
communications facilities as may be required by the team operating
in the territory under his military control.

(d) The joint Red Cross teams shall be dissolved upon
completion of the program of repatriation of all of the prisoners
of war specified in Sub-paragraph 51 (a) hereof, who insist upon
repatriation.

58.

(a) The Commander of each side shall furnish to the Commander
of the other side as soon as practicable, but not later than ten
(10) days after this Armistice Agreement becomes effective, the
following information concerning prisoners of war:

(1) Complete data pertaining to the prisoners of war who
escaped since the effective date of the data last exchanged.

(2) Insofar as practicable, information regarding name,
nationality, rank, and other identification data, date and cause of
death, and place of burial, of those prisoners of war who died
while in his custody.

(b) If any prisoners of war escape or die after the effective
date of the supplementary information specified above, the
detaining side shall furnish to the other side, through the
Committee for Repatriation of Prisoners of War, the data pertaining
thereto in accordance with the provisions of Sub-paragraph 58 (a)
hereof. Such data shall be furnished at ten-day intervals until the
completion of the program of delivery and reception of prisoners of
war.

(c) Any escaped prisoner of war who returns to the custody of
the detaining side after the completion of the program of delivery
and reception of prisoners of war shall be delivered to the
Military Armistice Commission for disposition.

59.

(a) All civilians who, at the time this Armistice Agreement
become effective, are in territory under the military control of
the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, and who, on 24 June
1950, resided north of the Military Demarcation Line established in
this Armistice Agreement shall, if they desire to return home, be
permitted and assisted by the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations
Command, to return to the area north of the military Demarcation
Line; and all civilians who, at the time this Armistice Agreement
becomes effective, are in territory under the military control of
the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and the Commander
of the Chinese People's Volunteers, and who on 24 June 1950,
resided south of the Military Demarcation Line established in this
Armistice Agreement shall, if they desire to return home, be
permitted and assisted by the Supreme Commander of the Korean
People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers
to return to the area south Military Demarcation Line. The
Commander of each side shall e responsible for publicizing widely
throughout the territory under his military control the contents of
the provisions of this Sub-paragraph, and for calling upon the
appropriate civil authorities to give necessary guidance and
assistance to all such civilians who desire to return home.

(b) All civilians of foreign nationality who, at the time this
Armistice Agreement becomes effective, are in territory under the
military control of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's
Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers shall if
they desire to proceed to territory under the military control of
the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations command, be permitted and
assisted to do so; all civilians of foreign nationality who, at the
time this Armistice Agreement becomes effective, are in territory
under the military control of the Commander-in- Chief, United
Nations Command, shall, if they desire to proceed to territory
under the military Control of the Supreme Commander of the Korean
People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers,
be permitted and assisted to do so. The Commander of each side
shall be responsible for publicizing widely throughout the
territory under his military control of contents of the provisions
of this sub-paragraph, and for calling upon the appropriate civil
authorizes to give necessary guidance and assistance to all such
civilians of foreign nationality who desire to proceed to territory
under the military control of the Commander of the other side.

(c) Measures to assist in the return of civilians provided for
in Sub-paragraph 59 (a) hereof and the movement of civilians
provided for in Sub-paragraph 59 (b) hereof shall be commenced by
both sides as soon as possible after this Armistice Agreement
becomes effective.

(d)

(1) A Committee for Assisting the Return of Displace Civilians
is hereby established. It shall be composed of four (4) officers of
field grade, two (2) of whom shall be appointed jointly by the
Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, and two (2) of whom
shall be appointed jointly by the Supreme Commander of the Korean
People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
This committee shall, under the general supervision and direction
of the Military Armistice Commission, be responsible for
coordinating the specific plans of both sides for assistance to the
return of the above-mentioned civilians. It shall be the duty of
this Committee to make necessary arrangements, including those of
transportation, for expediting and coordinating the movement of the
above-mentioned civilians; to select the crossing point(s) through
which the above-mentioned civilians will cross the Military
Demarcation Line; to arrange for security at the crossing point(s);
and to carry out such other functions as are required to accomplish
the return of the above-mentioned civilians.

(2) When unable to reach agreement on any matter relating to
its responsibilities, the Committee for Assisting the return of
Displaced Civilians shall immediately refer such matter to the
Military Armistice Commission for decision. The Committee for
assisting the Return of Displaced Civilians shall maintain its
headquarters in proximity to the headquarters of the Military
Armistice Commission.

(3) The Committee for Assisting the Return of Displaced
Civilians shall be dissolved by the Military Armistice Commission
upon fulfillment of its mission.

Article
IV

Recommendations
to the Governments Concerned on Both Sides

60. In order to insure the peaceful settlement of the Korean
question, the military Commanders of both sides hereby recommend to
the governments of the countries concerned on both sides that,
within three (3) months after the Armistice Agreement is signed and
becomes effective, a political conference of a higher level of both
sides be held by representatives appointed respectively to settle
through negotiation the questions of the withdrawal of all foreign
forces from Korea, the peaceful settlement of the Korean question,
etc.

Article V

Miscellaneous

61. Amendments and additions to this Armistice Agreement must be
mutually agreed to by the Commanders of the opposing sides.

62. The Articles and Paragraphs of this Armistice Agreement
shall remain in effect until expressly superseded either by
mutually acceptable amendments and additions or by provision in an
appropriate agreement for a peaceful settlement at a political
level between both sides.

63. All of the provisions of this Armistice Agreement, other
than Paragraph 12, shall become effective at 2200 hours on 27 July
1953.

Done at Panmunjom, Korea at 10:00 hours on the 27th day of July
1953, in English, Korean and Chinese, all texts being equally
authentic.